The effects of the April flooding continue to be felt on Kaua‘i and will be for the foreseeable future. Engineers and road crews are still at work repairing the single, badly damaged road leading to the affected north shore community. And a caravan system is still in operation – with officials slowly leading locals in and out of the area a few times a day.

The recent volcanic activity on the Big Island of Hawai‘i has captured the attention of the world. But elsewhere in the islands there’s another dramatic story that has not been a focus for many. It’s been nearly six weeks since Kaua‘i was hit by record flooding. And the recovery continues to be a slow process. We get more from HPR Contributing Reporter Scott Giarman on Kaua‘i.

When it comes to converting to renewable energy, the biggest success story in the islands is on Kaua‘i. Less than a decade ago, about five percent of the Garden Island’s energy came from renewable sources. Now it’s more than eight times that figure. But the island is also making progress on another important issue: how to make use of solar energy when the sun isn’t shining. HPR contributing reporter Scott Giarman has more from Kaua‘i.

The Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative held its annual meeting last night in Līhu‘e. It’s the only electric utility in the state that is not part of the Hawai‘i Electric Family. It’s also a national leader when it comes to approaching a goal of 100-percent renewable energy. HPR contributing correspondent Scott Giarman looks at the island’s energy past, present and future from Kaua‘i.

A few weeks ago, a helicopter was sent on a rescue mission to a remote location deep in Limahuli Valley on Kauai’s north shore. This time, it wasn’t a hiker in distress needing rescue. The mission was part of an on-going effort to save the endangered Newell’s Shearwater from extinction. From Kaua‘i, HPR contributing reporter Scott Giarman has more.

Kauai’s Kokee State Park is home to the Alaka‘i Wilderness Preserve. At an elevation of one mile, it’s the world’s highest rainforest swamp. It’s also home to numerous endangered species as well as haunting and majestic vistas for visitors. A boardwalk was built back in the ‘90s both to protect the rare plants and animals and also for hiker safety. But that boardwalk is no longer what it used to be. HPR contributing reporter Scott Giarman has more from Kaua‘i.

A group of eleven Kaua‘i citizens recently released a draft report about pesticides on the island. The Joint Fact-Finding Study Group was convened by the County and the State Department of Agriculture—and represented viewpoints from both sides of the controversy, at a cost of $100,000 dollars. The findings seemed definitive, but they have not put an end to the pesticide debate on the Garden Isle. HPR contributing reporter Scott Giarman has more from Kaua‘i.

The popular Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on Kauai closed its gates to the public on January 17th. It’s not expected to re-open until the end of April. Scott Giarman on Kauai has more on the reasons for the closing and the Refuge’s plans for visitors during the closing period.

Voters on Kauai elect their County Council members at-large. That means all seven members represent the entire island. But every other county in Hawaii has some form of district voting and Kauai may be about to move in that direction. Scott Giarman has more from The Garden Isle.

Kauai voters have considered changing the system of choosing County Council representatives from at-large to district voting since the ‘80s. Proponents say if Council members represent specific regions of the island they would be more responsive to voters in their area.

The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on the north shore of Kauai is one of the most visited national parks in the country. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the refuge every year. It’s home to some of the largest populations of nesting seabirds in Hawai‘i - and now Fish and Wildlife officers are taking a new step to protect some of the most endangered bird species in the world.

Kaua‘i is the only major island in the state that does not get its electricity from the Hawaiian Electric family of companies. The island relies on the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative—KIUC. Recently, the cooperative announced a partnership with California-based Solar City to develop a solar electricity farm that will be the first of its kind in the nation. HPR contributing reporter Scott Giarman has more from Kaua‘i.

When people think of traffic issues in Hawai‘i, O‘ahu is usually part of the conversation. But a recent event on Kaua‘i was the latest reminder that the Garden Island also has some challenges on the road. HPR contributing reporter Scott Giarman has more from Kaua‘i.

A couple of Fridays ago, a brush fire just south of the Wailua River closed Kaumuali‘i Highway around three in the morning. Five hours later, the road was re-opened, but traffic didn’t start moving until later in the morning.

The Kauai County Council recently passed a bill requiring negligent adventurers to pay for their rescues. But determining what costs to recover and what sorts of rescues would be included was not so easy. We get details from HPR contributor Scott Giarman on Kauai.

Hawai‘i has committed to an ambitious goal of using 100-percent renewable energy within thirty years. Part of that picture includes hydroelectric power. And a bill put forth by a representative from Kaua‘i would help increase the adoption of water power. From Kaua‘i, Scott Giarman has more.

When adventurers find themselves in trouble on Kauai, rescue personnel are on call to help. But at what point does a person’s own negligence make it reasonable to require them to pay the cost of their rescue? That’s a question Kaua‘i’s County Council is considering. We get more on the story from HPR contributor Scott Giarman on Kaua‘i.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wants to increase protection for humpback whales. The plan includes an expansion of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. And that drew some sharp reactions at a recent public hearing on Kaua‘i. We get more on the story from Scott Giarman on Kaua‘i.

Leadership changes in the state senate will have a big impact on the next legislative session. The new president of the senate, Ron Kouchi, is an unusual leader in several ways, including the fact that he comes from a neighbor island. We get more on his background from Scott Giarman on Kaua‘i.